College uses AI mannequins to train health and care practitioners
Students at Darlington College will be able to practise medical procedures in a simulated health care environment using lifelike mannequins.
Darlington College, a further education college in County Durham, is to use mannequins powered by artificial intelligence to train students in health and social care.
Staff at the college will use the AI mannequins to create a variety of health and social care scenarios at a new training facility, which will include realistic recreations of a hospital ward, a GP surgery and a nursing home. These practice areas will include beds, screens, sinks, medical flooring and an open teaching space.
The aim is to create true-to-life environments so students can familiarise themselves with the workplace as the college helps the country meet a huge shortfall of staff in the sector. In September 2023, the NHS vacancy rate was 8.4%, or 121,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) roles. In 2022/23, the overall social care vacancy rate was 9.9%, or 152,000 roles.
Mick O’Reilly, the college’s curriculum manager for health, childcare, public services and science, said: “We are very excited. The vastly improved sense of realism is going to be so much better for the students and the local health and social care sector will benefit enormously as a result.”